The Day You Begin, written by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López, and published by Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, is the Winner in the Books for Younger Children category. The Day You Begin ​demonstrates the power of sharing stories to break down barriers and build community​. The Selection Committee noted that “the lovely, lyrical lilt of Woodson’s unrhymed verse cradles young readers as they bear witness to explicit othering.”

Author(s): Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrator: Rafael López
Award(s): 2019, Winner Book for Younger Children

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